More Joyous headlined a star studded barrier trial session at a rain soaked Randwick this morning.
The trials featured many big names from the Gai Waterhouse stable, with the top trainer recording victories in 11 of the 17 trials.
However, More Joyous was only fair in her trial, with her brilliance possibility dented by the heavy track.
The blueblood finished fifth to stablemate Flying Success.
While she was not knocked about, she seemed to labour slightly in what is likely to be her only Sydney appearance this preparation.
She will head to Melbourne where she will target the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m), with her first run in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 30.
Earlier on the card, Caulfield Cup winner Descarado showed he has returned in good style, winning his second barrier trial in two weeks.
Pushed out, he came with a late burst to defeat stablemates Lorne Dancer and Teardrop Rock.
Queensland Derby fifth Charing Cross was also pushed out but recorded a dominant win from Fitness Fanatic, in the quickest 1050m time of the morning.
The Graeme Rogerson-trained Bid Spotter produced a nice trial to defeat Brisbane Cup winner Tullamore, ridden out, and last year’s AJC Oaks winner Once Were Wild, who was given an easy ride but hit the line nicely.
Ice Creme, always a good trialler, led all the way to narrowly edge out Stradbroke winner Sincero and Ajax Stakes winner Pureness.
The John O’Shea trained Lightinthenite caught the eye in the same trial, under a stranglehold but making nice ground.
Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Shared Reflections had one of the quietest trials of the morning, but she made good ground to finish third to stablemate Cape City Flyer.
Both horses are among entries for the Thousand Guineas.
The Golden Rose may come too soon for Snippetson gelding Nobby Snip but he showed he could be a contender with a slick trial win.
First starter Precious Villa, by Not a Single Doubt out of Precious Thirst, impressed in defeating another well bred commodity in Fayez (Encosta De Lago x Faiza), while unraced Zabeel galloper Power Broker finished a narrow second to the Anthony Cummings-trained Sandhurst.
Former Kiwi galloper The Great Snowman, owned in the same interests as Descarado and Tullamore, took his first step towards the Caulfield Guineas with an easy trial win.
Northern Meteor’s full brother Silver Meteor didn’t show much at his first trial appearance, finishing last behind The Great Snowman
Other trial winners for Waterhouse included Jethro, Merensky Reef, Costa Serena and Raw Edge.
Anthony Cummings was the only other trainer to get more than one win, recording victories with Sandhurst, Wakanda and Crystal Rock, while Graeme Rogerson, Jason Coyle and Grahame Begg recorded victories with Bid Spotter, Full Blast and Touchy Feely respectively.
